Henderson County buys former Christian school property

Published: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Henderson County officials Thursday closed on the former Hendersonville Christian School at 708 South Grove St.

“We would like to thank Sen. Tom Apodaca for this assistance in finalizing the acquisition of the facility,” County Manager Steve Wyatt said in a news release Friday.

After about three months of waiting, the N.C. Attorney General’s Office finally gave the sale its “conditional approval” to move forward after Apodaca intervened.

Commissioners authorized the $910,000 purchase in October and had hoped to close on the property in November, in order to begin $1.01 million in improvements necessary to turn the closed school into a new athletics and activity center.

But the deal was stymied when the county learned that the school’s nonprofit owners could not dispose of their assets without approval from the Attorney General’s Office. That process usually takes 30 days, but under state law, the Attorney General’s Office can extend its review to gather more information. Negotiations between state attorneys and school owners dragged on, despite repeated pleas from County Attorney Russ Burrell for a compromise that would allow the sale to move forward.

“I am pleased that Henderson County and the Department of Justice officials were able to work together so the county can continue to provide first-class recreational facility for its citizens,” Apodaca said in the release.

Commissioners picked up the former school property, including a regulation athletic field, for $290,000 below its listed price.

Henderson County will use the facility as a community recreation center. The county will begin preparing the Athletic and Activities Center for the public by having the gymnasium available for use in early spring. County staff will be preparing bid specifications for the artificial turf on the athletic fields.

County officials will also be bringing the existing school building into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Visit www.hendersoncountync.org for updates on the progress of the facility.

<p>Henderson County officials Thursday closed on the former Hendersonville Christian School at 708 South Grove St. </p><p>“We would like to thank Sen. Tom Apodaca for this assistance in finalizing the acquisition of the facility,” County Manager Steve Wyatt said in a news release Friday.</p><p>After about three months of waiting, the N.C. Attorney General's Office finally gave the sale its “conditional approval” to move forward after Apodaca intervened. </p><p>Commissioners authorized the $910,000 purchase in October and had hoped to close on the property in November, in order to begin $1.01 million in improvements necessary to turn the closed school into a new athletics and activity center.</p><p>But the deal was stymied when the county learned that the school's nonprofit owners could not dispose of their assets without approval from the Attorney General's Office. That process usually takes 30 days, but under state law, the Attorney General's Office can extend its review to gather more information. Negotiations between state attorneys and school owners dragged on, despite repeated pleas from County Attorney Russ Burrell for a compromise that would allow the sale to move forward.</p><p>“I am pleased that Henderson County and the Department of Justice officials were able to work together so the county can continue to provide first-class recreational facility for its citizens,” Apodaca said in the release.</p><p>Commissioners picked up the former school property, including a regulation athletic field, for $290,000 below its listed price.</p><p>Henderson County will use the facility as a community recreation center. The county will begin preparing the Athletic and Activities Center for the public by having the gymnasium available for use in early spring. County staff will be preparing bid specifications for the artificial turf on the athletic fields.</p><p>County officials will also be bringing the existing school building into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.</p><p>Visit www.hendersoncountync.org for updates on the progress of the facility.</p>